Chinese warships head to Somali waters, Japan may follow soon
December 26, 2008 (LONDON) — International coalition to fight piracy off the Somali coast, has gained additional allies today. Three Chinese warships have set sail for the Gulf of Aden, while Japan said considering to join soon this global effort to secure this vital maritime road.
Three Chinese vessels, with, missiles and helicopters, described by the official Xinhua as “most sophisticated ships” left Sanya in south China’s Hainan Province today to join the international anti-piracy mission off Somalia.
The Somali pirates pushed China for the first time to send warships, two destroyers and one supply ship, on a mission so far beyond its territorial waters. The fleet would have some 800 crew, including 70 special operations troops, according to Xinhua.
The mandate of the fleet is mainly to protect Chinese vessels, including those from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, but will also escort foreign ships passing through the area that request protection.
Beijing also underscored that the worships will investigate any suspected pirate vessels, and approach them and demand that they show their relevant documents and certificates.
The surge in piracy in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes has pushed up insurance costs, brought pirates in the Horn of Africa country tens of millions of dollars in ransom and prompted foreign navies to rush to the area to protect merchant shipping.
The U.N. Security Council on December 17, authorised countries fighting piracy off the Somali coast to take action also on Somalia’s territory and in its airspace, subject to consent by the country’s government.
Today Japan also said it is considering sending its Navy to fight piracy, despite its post-World War Two pacifist constitution.
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Friday tasked his Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada with considering sending Self-Defence Forces (SDF) vessels on an antipiracy mission to waters off Somalia.
“I received an instruction from Prime Minister Aso that we accelerate the work of consideration so that the SDF can swiftly deal with the piracy issue,” Hamada told the reporters during a news conference in Tokyo today.
The Japan government may issue an order for “maritime policing activity” in accordance with the Self-Defence Forces Law as early as in January with a view to providing protection to Japanese ships from pirate activities in February.
Warships from Britain, France, India, Russia, NATO and the US are also cruising the Somali waters that have been plagued by pirate attacks in recent months. Pirates have made an estimated £20 million hijacking ships for ransom in 2008, seizing more than 40 vessels off Somalia’s 1,880-mile coastline.
(ST)